Christopher Hollow's Best of 2014

1. Dean Wareham, Dean Wareham Dean Wareham has never let me down – from Galaxie 500 through to Luna, Dean & Britta to this, his debut solo album. My fave tracks include: “Love is Not a Roof [Against the Rain]”, “Happy & Free” plus his stellar cover of a song called “Heartless People”.

2. Wigout at Jagbags, Stephen Malkmus & The Jicks I hadn’t heard a Malkmus/Pavement record since 1993’s Crooked Rain. This one took my fancy. He’s still writing great lines that stick eg. “I don’t have the stomach for your brandy, I can hardly sip your tea” [“Independence Street”]. Just like Tattoo You, side two has the best songs, cue “Cinnamon and Lesbians.”

3. Lost Colony, William Tyler William Tyler’s instrumental EP includes a cover of Michael Rother’s “Karussell”

4. Barragán, Blonde Redhead Incredible production, great songs.

5. Held in Splendor, Quilt Boston three-piece. They nearly died in a van smash earlier in the year. They also released a great record.

6. Life Among the Savages, Papercuts At the zoo, Papercuts aka Jason Quever’s not the lion, he’s the ocelot. In the fruit bowl, he’s not the kiwi, he’s the orange. At the carnival, he’s hardly the Kamikaze ride, more the laughing clown. But who doesn’t like oranges, ocelots or putting ping-pong balls into a wide-open mouth?

7. Gon’ Boogaloo, C.W. Stoneking Paul Kelly reckons C.W. has spent some time making deals at the crossroads. Or just woodshedding for six years. Inspired arrangements, great backing vocals, this album is his best, a genuine surprise.

Brian Wise was the Editor of Addicted To Noise‘s Australian site from 1997 – 2002. The site won two ONYA Awards as Best Online Music Magazine in 1999 & 2000. He has also been Editor since its reincarnation in 2013. He also presents the weekly music interview program Off The Record on 102.7 Triple R-FM (rrr.org.au) in Melbourne. It is networked to 45+ stations across Australia on the Community Radio Network and is a four-time winner of the Best Music Program Award from the Community Broadcasting Association of Australia. In 2012, it was nominated as a finalist in the Excellence in Music Programming category. Brian was also the Founding Editor & Publisher of Rhythms Magazine and is now its Senior Contributing Editor.

About

Addicted to Noise was an online music magazine in the early days of the World Wide Web. Founded in 1994 by ex-Rolling Stone Associate Editor and Senior Writer Michael Goldberg, he was also the Editor in Chief from October 1994 – June 2000).